EFL Media’s Tim Fitzsimons previews all the upcoming weekend’s action in Division 3…
PARK ORCHARDS (2ND, 13-5) v TEMPLESTOWE (3RD, 13-5)
Finals have come for division 3 with Park Orchards and Templestowe kicking off proceedings this Saturday in the Qualifying Final at East Burwood Reserve.
This will be Park Orchards’ first division 3 finals campaign in its sixth EFL season, three years after being promoted from division 4 and they enter the finals following a convincing 54-point win over Ferntree Gully.
They have enjoyed a terrific season so far and their youthfulness has given the club great energy throughout the year and it is sure to be a dynamic factor over the remaining few weeks.
The Sharks attack has been the best in the competition by far, scoring more than 200 points more than the next best in Ringwood over the course of the season.
Making this more impressive is the fact they have done so without possessing a forward in the top five goal kickers for the competition, highlights the evenness throughout the forward line and midfield.
Templestowe have also had an impressive year once again and will be looking to rectify the heartbreak of the past few seasons over the next month where they have fallen agonisingly short on multiple occasions.
They had to muster everything they had last week to get the double chance, coming from 15 points behind at three quarter time to run over the top of Boronia and knock the Hawks out of the top five.
One of their flaws may be a lack of height up forward but this creates a bit of versatility in their forward line, which could be extremely dangerous and unpredictable for the Sharks defence.
The Dockers defence is statistically the best in the competition and this makes for a mouth-watering clash with the best attack in Park Orchards and one that definitely shouldn’t be missed.
You can listen to the game live on 98.1 Eastern FM from 1pm or stream the game through efnl.org.au.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
ROUND 12
PARK ORCHARDS 11.11.77 def. by TEMPLESTOWE 12.6.78
What an absolute cracker we saw in round 12 with the Dockers holding on to win by the barest of margins.
Versatile forwards Ollie Lodge and Ken Thomas were amongst the best performers for Templestowe while Tom Feher and Michael Prosenak did their best to try and get the Sharks across the line.
SCORESBY (4TH, 13-5) v HEATHMONT (5TH, 12-6)
It’ll be season over for one of these sides after they meet in Sunday’s elimination final at Walker Park.
Scoresby are one of the form sides of the competition, winning nine in a row and come into the finals series full of momentum.
The Magpies have had plenty of tight games over this period, winning by one point twice, four points, seven points and 11 points.
Their ability to get over the line in close games will hold them in good stead knowing that hey can get the job done when it counts.
Scoresby enter this Sunday’s elimination final after a nice tune up last week against Warrandyte where they did enough to come away 47-point winners.
This will be the clubs first finals series since the 2012 in division 1 and they will be hoping this is the first step towards becoming one of the top clubs in the league.
Heathmont’s form hasn’t been ground-breaking over the past couple of months, however over the last two of weeks they have done what they had to do against Warrandyte and South Belgrave by beating them convincingly.
When the opposition is unable to put the pressure on and their hard overlap running and spread gets going, the Jets look unstoppable and one of the most dangerous teams in the competition.
In finals though, the pressure will be on so it will be interesting to see if they can grind their way to wins and break the lines whenever they get the opportunity.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
ROUND 16
HEATHMONT 9.7.61 def. by SCORESBY 10.8.68
In a game of two halves, Scoresby came home strongly following the main break after a disappointing first half to record a terrific victory at HE Parker Park.
Jarrod Hicks and swingman for the day Marc Williams were instrumental for the Magpies while Kevin Clark did his best to give his side some life kicking four first half goals.
